The Singapore bicentennial : the benefits and burdens of the past

Abstract

In 2019, Singapore commemorated the 200th anniversary, or the bicentennial, of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival in Singapore as it was seen as “a key milestone” in Singapore’s history. However, during the commemoration, the narrative of Singapore’s history was projected back to the 14th century and the events and activities of the Singapore Bicentennial shone light onto Singapore’s 700-year history instead of its 200-year history. This thesis examines the reasons for the shift of focus from the colonial period to the pre-1819 period of Singapore’s history during the bicentennial. It delves into both the state and societal aspects of the Singapore Bicentennial. Using David Lowenthal’s notion of the benefits and burdens of the past, this thesis argues that the burdens of Singapore’s past are mitigated by the longue durée approach while the benefits of its past are undermined by societal responses which led to the extending of Singapore historical narrative to encompass Singapore’s 700-year history.